5. Air-conditioned.

Day or night, cities are usually hot especially on summer. However, there are air-conditioned rooms which fits your budget.

If you are in training centers from 8am to 5pm, a twelve-hour aircon schedule may be suitable for you. The air-conditioner will be activated from 6pm to 6am- which is most important for a comfortable sleep.

You won’t be around the room the whole day since you’re in training or review centers.

6. Enough Toilets and Sinks.

As a rule of thumb, there should be 1 toilet and sink for every 10 to 15 persons. However, if the occupants jump between 36 to 55, there must be at least 4 toilets.

It should be functional, without clogs and always maintained.

7. FREE 24/7 Water and Electricity.

These are very important for our day to day living. Paying less for a boarding house but suffering water shortage is an inconvenience you don’t want to have.

However, paying more but having these issues is a disaster.

Immediately pack up and find a better seaman’s boarding house.

8. No Curfew.

Some of us like to enjoy the night-lifes of the city. Concerts, overnight gigs and early morning travels can’t be avoided.

Having a curfew in your boarding house limits your freedom of movement especially if you’re attending seminars with heavy traffic between each destination.

9. Disciplined Borders.

Back in the days, I’ve been in a boarding house where gambling and smoking were promoted. Some months before I came there, the place was raided by police forces due to reports of illegal drugs.

This is a total red flag so before checking in a boarding house, ask the owner or boarders about smoking, drinking and gambling house rules.

10. Refunds and Come-Backs.

Unfortunately, seafarers mostly don’t have exact clues how long they’re going to stay in the city.

With this, it’s best to go in a boarding house where you’re refunded when under-staying. If they don’t have any refund policy, they should at least preserve your payment until the time of your return.

INSIDER TIP:

I have been in a boarding house where some of the seafarers are very close to the owners that when they are financially constrained, they are able to extend payments until they get on board.

They told me that they know the owner for more than five years and are a regular to that place.

11. FREE Drinking Water.

I myself likes to drink water especially during sunny days and scheduled PEME exams.

However, there would be times that my mineral bottle would run out in the middle of the night.

Going out just to buy drinking water may destroy your sleep’s momentum. Thus, it’s best when your boarding house is offering free potable water.

It help saves your money, too.

12. Safe and Accessible.

Seamen are mostly busy during the day. Your boarding house should be near to your training center, MARINA, malls, company office, or any places of interest.

If they’re not in a walking distance, they should be at least accessible by transport systems like jeepneys, trains, buses, taxis, etc.

It should also be safe and well lit especially during the night.

There are lots of boarding house near Kalaw Street, Manila. You must choose the right one for you.

13. Clean and Well Maintained.

We are always looking forward to pass our seaman’s medical exam. However, having a dirty boarding house could be a factor for your failure.

Your rooms and all the facilities should be cleaned regularly with at least one general cleaning every week with minor touch ups before it.

The management must also provide clean replacements of old beddings free of charge.

14. With Own Locker.

Some things are used regularly and are better placed in a locker with locking mechanism.

Toothbrush, perfumes, gel, shampoo and many personal effects can be stored there.

This frees up your bed from those small stuffs that can be safely placed somewhere.

ATTENTION TO OWNERS:

If you are an owner who wants to promote your boarding house offering these facilities, kindly send me a message thru my Facebook Page. You can also send me an email at seamanmemories@gmail.com.